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Teen Boy Mocked By Peers For Dancing (Video)

Sean Varner has danced jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, modern and contemporary for eight years, but the teen is concerned about starting Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, because he has been mocked by his peers in the past over his dancing skills (video below).

"When I first started, I was afraid to tell people," Sean recently told PBS NewsHour. "Some of them don't ever agree with it or accept it."

Men were part of the beginning of ballet back in the 15th century in Italy and France. Some of the greatest dancers of the 20th century have been men: Vaslav Nijinsky, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolf Nureyev.

Despite the long history of men dancing their way to fame and fortune, Sean says: "Most other guys don't react too well, they try to poke fun at me."

"I think Sean has probably lost friends, but from my parental perspective, I think those have been minimal," Edward Varner, the teen's dad, says. "He's really connected with a niche group of people who like him for who he is.”

"There are some days when it gets to me," Sean states. "People typically say that it’s girlish or it’s feminine and that it’s not a real sport.”

Sean and his dad say that dancing helps him with his anxiety.

"You have to choose to surround yourself with people who help lift you up," Edward adds. "And separate yourself from those who are all about tearing you down."